Red Top Restaurant, located on Main Street in Cassville, offers tasty meals, friendly service and a casual, cafe-style dining atmosphere.

"Everything is homemade, and we offer the best service in town," said Missy Hurley, Red Top Restaurant owner. "Our waitresses are very friendly, and we try to accommodate our customers. I couldn't run this restaurant without my great staff."

Prior to opening the Red Top Restaurant on Oct. 19, 2008, Hurley co-owned and co-operated the Hilltop Restaurant, which was located on Highway 112 south of Cassville.

"After the Hilltop Restaurant burned, people began stopping me and asking 'when are you opening another restaurant?'" said Hurley. "I finally decided to do it and here we are."

Hurley's restaurant experience extends well beyond her ownership of the Hilltop Restaurant. Before purchasing her first business, Hurley worked at the Hilltop Restaurant under two owners and garnered over 10 years of food service experience.

The Red Top Restaurant is further supported by the staff's 60-plus years of combined food service experience. Two of Hurley's staff members previously worked at the Hilltop Restaurant.

After creating an outstanding menu and recruiting an experienced food service staff, Hurley focused on designing a welcoming dining atmosphere. Hurley partnered with her landlord to make several modifications to the restaurant building, which at one time housed Hardee's.

"I wanted to get those booths out," said Hurley. "That was the biggest thing, and most everyone says that they like this a lot better. It is easier to get around and it looks more like a dining room."

After renovations were complete, Hurley partnered with Creative Images owner Carol Schnitzler to decorate the restaurant. Most of the artwork displayed in the restaurant is available for purchase through Schnitzler.

Although the wait staff is friendly and the restaurant decor is inviting, most Red Top customers will say that it is the homemade cuisine that keeps them coming back.

Diners who visit the restaurant early are treated to an extensive breakfast menu that features an assortment of traditional breakfast platters, omelets, biscuits and gravy, toasted homemade bread and other morning entrees.

Other diners will love the chicken fried steak, pork tenderloins, mushroom and swiss burgers and homemade bread that is served with many meals.

The restaurant also offers a variety of salads, sandwiches and chicken entrees, and a full children's menu with burgers, chicken strips and catfish.

Daily specials, which range from barbecued chicken to catfish dinners, are displayed in the restaurant's foyer. Hurley often asks customers for daily special suggestions and welcomes feedback from all of her diners.

In addition to the variety of satisfying entrees and specials offered at the Red Top Restaurant, diners can select from an assortment of homemade pies, which usually include chocolate, peanut butter and lemon.

Families and other large parties interested in dining at the restaurant are welcome to make reservations. The restaurant maintains a separate room that can accommodate up to 20 individuals comfortably.

"I really enjoy the customers," said Hurley. "I like making diners happy."

Over the next few months, diners should watch for small changes to the Red Top Restaurant's menu as Hurley plans to add some new entree options.

The Red Top Restaurant is open from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.